MA · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Massachusetts?
No — Massachusetts has no public online warrant search. Here’s how to find out.
Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage No online searchJurisdiction Massachusetts
Why there’s no single online search
Massachusetts has no public online warrant search.
Warrant information is kept in the Trial Court's Warrant Management System (WMS), which is not open to the public.
Court records are available through the Massachusetts court system, but they do not provide a public 'active warrant' status check, and access to criminal records is tightly restricted by the state's CORI law.
Individuals can request their own criminal record through iCORI, and access to WMS is otherwise limited to counsel of record.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Massachusetts
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Contact the clerk-magistrate's office of the relevant District Court or Boston Municipal Court
In Massachusetts a missed court date typically produces a 'default warrant.' Contact the clerk-magistrate's office of the court handling the matter and ask whether a default or arrest warrant is outstanding; provide your full name and date of birth. Court locations are on the state court-system site.
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Request your own criminal record through iCORI
The state's iCORI service lets you request your own Criminal Offender Record Information. Open cases and defaults may appear, but CORI is a record request, not a definitive warrant tool.
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Contact the local police department or county sheriff
Local police and the county sheriff can advise whether a warrant is outstanding and how it is handled in that jurisdiction.
Types of warrants in Massachusetts
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Default warrant
- the common Massachusetts term for a warrant issued when a defendant fails to appear in court
- Arrest warrant
- issued on a complaint supported by probable cause to take a named person into custody
- Search warrant
- authorizes a search of a place or property; a police tool, not a public lookup
What happens if a warrant is ignored
An unserved warrant generally stays active until the court clears it; warrants do not expire on their own.
While it is outstanding you can be arrested during any law-enforcement contact, such as a traffic stop.
The court may set bail.
In certain motor-vehicle-related matters, a default can be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and affect your license, depending on the case.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Confirm whether a warrant exists and get its details by contacting the clerk-magistrate of the issuing court: ask for the docket or warrant information, the charge, whether a court date is set, and any bail amount.
Note any scheduled court date and plan to appear.
If you decide to resolve it, ask the court how to remove a default (for example, appearing to have the matter re-heard).
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Massachusetts
Is there an online warrant search in Massachusetts?
No public online warrant search exists in Massachusetts. Here’s how to find out through the court or sheriff.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Massachusetts?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Contact the clerk-magistrate's office of the relevant District Court or Boston Municipal Court; Request your own criminal record through iCORI; Contact the local police department or county sheriff.
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Massachusetts?
An unserved warrant generally stays active until the court clears it; warrants do not expire on their own. While it is outstanding you can be arrested during any law-enforcement contact, such as a traffic stop. The court may set bail. In certain motor-vehicle-related matters, a default can be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and affect your license, depending on the case.
What should I do about a warrant in Massachusetts?
Confirm whether a warrant exists and get its details by contacting the clerk-magistrate of the issuing court: ask for the docket or warrant information, the charge, whether a court date is set, and any bail amount. Note any scheduled court date and plan to appear. If you decide to resolve it, ask the court how to remove a default (for example, appearing to have the matter re-heard).
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 4 official sources